What can Web hosts learn from Charles Darwin?

Celebrations will take place around the world today to honor Charles Darwin, the famous scientist and author of one of the most important works of non-fiction, “On the Origin of Species”.

What can we in the Web hosting world learn from the famous man born in Shrewsbury, England 200 years (Feb. 12, 1809) ago today?

One of the universal laws attributed to Darwin is: survival of the fittest. That doesn't necessarily mean the strongest or the smartest or the richest but let's face it, those are pretty good competitive advantages if you have them.

Darwin believed that: "In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment." Survival then, favors those who can adapt to their environment the best. You adapt. You overcome. You survive.

We all know that success in Web hosting favors those who attract customers, satisfy customers and retain customers. It's a customer-centric environment, after all. So as logic dictates, you position yourself, fine-tune or specialize as best as you can to this environment. That's hardly news, I know. But some Web hosts still don't have this down and in this environment where survival of the fittest will rule the day, they had better adapt.

If you haven't already start from the basics. Know what your customers want and train your staff to deliver it.
If you don't know, just find out...do a survey, speak to them, ask them to leave feedback on your website once a call is answered or a problem is solved. Thank them for their business and always ask if there is something that can be improved. Things do not have to be complicated to work and each day presents an opportunity to make things work better.

Darwin's teachings will be around for another 200 years, I'm sure. That's worth celebrating.

Incidentally, if you are in the Salt Lake City area today drop by Fat's Grill at 2182 Highland Drive. Dr. Alan Rogers, professor of anthropology and biology at the University of Utah, will be presenting a talk entitled "The Evolution of the Debate Over Evolution," followed by a Q&A and discussion session. Enjoy food, drink, conversation, pool and a great guest speaker. Check http://www.darwinday.org/events for other ideas and venues.